Clarke book captures beauty of Africa

Former Topeka Zoo director Gary Clarke has spent three decades documenting his 140 safaris in Africa in a new book coming out called "Gary Clarke's Africa: Wildlife, Rainbows and Laughter."

Gary Clarke flips through a proof of his new book "Gary Clarke's Africa: Wildlife, Rainbows and Laughter." The self-published book through Jostens in Topeka is a "limited edition" with only 1,000 copies available.

Gary Clarke flips through a proof of his new book "Gary Clarke's Africa: Wildlife, Rainbows and Laughter." The self-published book through Jostens in Topeka is a "limited edition" with only 1,000 copies available.

"Gary Clarke's Africa: Wildlife, Rainbows and Laughter"

As a young boy in Kansas, there were only two things Gary Clarke wanted to do — work at a zoo and go to Africa.

By age 18, Clarke had started his career at the Kansas City Zoo. By age 24, he was the director of the Topeka Zoo, and by age 35, he was on his first safari in Africa.

The book, at $100 apiece, is 14 inches tall and 10 inches wide and hardbound with a dust jacket. Every detail of the book, from the design foil stamped on the cover to the type of paper used, was picked by Clarke.

He described the book itself as “an endangered species” because the images of animals appearing in the book were captured using 35 mm-color slide film, a “somewhat outdated medium today.” None of the images was embellished or digitally altered.

“They reflect the Africa I saw and felt at the time,” Clarke said.

Clarke said the words are few but as important as the photographs.

“It’s not just about animals. It’s about the safari experience,” Clarke said. “This book is a graphic interpretation of what Africa is to me.”

Of all the places Clarke has been in Africa — from ballooning over the Serengeti, climbing Kilimanjaro and exploring the Skeleton Coast — there is one place where he would like to return.

“If I could go back one more time it would be the Zambezi River,” Clarke said.

When Clarke started the book the intent was simple — share with the reader the joy of the safari experience and share what Africa means to him.

“I realize that the resulting book is so much more then I expected,” Clarke said. “It is a window into my heart.”